Pull Ups: A Favorite Exercise!

Welcome to the 3rd installment of "My Favorite Exercises"! I'm not sure how many installments there will be, because as I continue to learn, I continue to have "favorite" exercises. Don't forget to check out my posts on burpees and planks- two more of my favorite exercises!

How To Do A Pull Up

Not those pull ups!

A pull up is when you grab onto a bar and lift your body weight so you chin goes above the bar. "Simple", right?

Not really! Pull ups are hard! But there are ways to practice and work up your strength so you can do one. This Youtube video is an awesome tutorial- I love this gal!

Why Pull Ups Are Awesome

1. They're one of the best compound exercises for your upper body! A compound exercise is an exercise that targets several muscle groups at once. Pull ups target your back, shoulders, biceps, and triceps.

2. Convenience. All you need us a bar and you're good to go!

3. It's strength training AND cardio. Try banging out a couple sets of pull ups without losing your breath. I dare you!

4. You will feel BAD ASS. Okay, this is my own reason I like pull ups. I feel really hard core, as hard core as the GUYS when I do pull ups. You'll probably feel pretty bad ass too, so I went ahead and added this as a reason pull ups are awesome. Confidence is IMPORTANT!

Let's face it. Pull ups are hard. Especially for us girls! We have more body fat and less muscle mass than men. So of course it's going to be harder. But that doesn't mean we can't do one! If you're not able to do a pull up on your own yet, try the tips from the Youtube video above, or use the assisted pull up machine at the gym. You'll get stronger, and eventually, if you work at it, you'll be able to do one without any assistance.

If this is the body you get from doing pull ups, count me IN!

I can only do one unassisted pull up, and it's a pretty shoddy one. So today when I went to the gym, I decided I'd do some pull up practice. I went to the assisted pull up machine and grabbed on to the close grip bars. This is easier than a wide grip pull up. 

My plan was to sort of jump up so I could hang there with my head above the bar (like this guy!) and lower myself down as slowly as possible- as demonstrated in the Youtube video above. This is supposed to help you gain strength to do unassisted pull ups. Well when I jumped up, I banged my legs into the machine in front of me. OW! I am sure I looked like an IDIOT, but I didn't look around to see if anyone saw me. I just hung there as long as possible. I didn't know what was hurting more, my legs from banging into the machine, or my biceps from hanging there.

So no more jumping up onto that thing! I shall pull myself up carefully next time! And there will be a next time! I am determined to be able to bang out more than one unassisted pull up!

 Do your pull ups, ladies and gentlemen!

How many pull ups can YOU do?????

8 Things I Am Loving RIGHT NOW!

1. Pet, Bath, and Beyond. We took Jelly there a few weeks ago because he had some matting in his fur. He got a bath, a good brushing, and his nails clipped. He looked BEAUTIFUL and all the grease was gone from his coat. He was so soft. Leanne, the cat groomer, is excellent. She takes her time and gives the animal a break if they need to de-stress. It is very apparent that she puts the needs of the cat first.

Pet Bath nd Beyond

2. My new recipe for Proatmel PLUS! My original recipe was 1/2 c. water, 1/4 c. rolled oats, 1/2 scoop vanilla whey protein powder. Here is my NEW and IMPROVED extra protein-y recipe:

This recipe is so smooth and creamy. The pudding mix probably sounds like a wild card, but it really does make it taste like bananas and cream oatmeal. You could always use real banana instead if you wanted some extra carbs and sugar.

3. The Conjuring. This movie is SCARY! It is not gory. I compare it to Paranormal Activity, Insidious, or The Amityville Horror. It's what you can't see in this movie that makes it really terrifying!

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4. These books! During my research on becoming a personal trainer, I found Joe Cannon's website, which has become a fabulous research tool for me. I ordered a few books he has written to help me in my journey to becoming a trainer.

Joe Cannon

5. Dollar General. I forget about this place, and it's right up the street! My recent finds: black hair ties for $1 (there's about 15 in a pack!), nail polish remover for $1.25, and Cover Girl mascara for $4! Skip Target, go to DG!

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6. Milk! I have been craving milk so much lately. Sometimes I mix in some protein powder, but most of the time, I drink it plain, in a nice big cup. Or if I'm feeling fancy, a wine glass!

7. Pull ups! I sense a "Favorite Exercise" post coming up... I've seen pull ups described as "squats for your upper body". I'm trying to work on my back and my arms, so pull ups are a must.

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8. This Article: Healthy Exercise vs. Compulsive Exercise by Jodie Glasspool. I know, not everyone can be blessed with the need to over exercise, but I can definitely relate to this article! It is a good thing to read to keep yourself in check!

Previous Things I'm Loving Posts

8 Things I'm Loving RIGHT NOW! 7-20-13

8 Things I'm Loving RIGHT NOW! 7-5-13

What are you loving RIGHT NOW!?